Conceptual artist Joseph Kosuth along side the GT Behaim
globe enlarged to his specifications.

Greaves
& Thomas have now collaborated with numerous artists in order
that their idea can take a spherical form.

Recently,
world renowned conceptual
artist Joseph
Kosuth worked with the Casa Colon Museum in Gran Canaria,
Canary Isles. The end result entailed Greaves & Thomas supplying
a very large black and white version of their Behaim globe. Greaves
& Thomas also made the base and plinth for the globe, so possibly
the term 'Conceptual'
artist has been used here to the very last detail.

Kosuth's conceptual globe in situ in Casa Colon,
Gran Canaria.

Recently Greaves & Thomas have assisted Yinka Shonibare produced
a series of globes, here elaborate internal weights were used
to enable the globes to support the figures so they balanced at
their intended position.

Greaves
& Thomas also assisted (albeit in a very small part of supplying
the plaster spheres) artist Woojung Chung, who made some very
intricate globes which were exhibited at the Venice Biennale.
Here a superb labryinth elevated the globe to a further dimension.

Greaves
& Thomas worked with the following artists in 2005: Tracy
Emin; Gavin Turk; Michael Nyman; Rob and Nick Carter; Keith Coventry;
Simon English; Dan Mcmillan and Tim Nobel and Sue Webster.This
collaboration was organised by Christian
Aid and these Brit Artists supplied artwork to be morphed
into globes. The original artwork and the 8 unique globes were
exhibited at the fine art society and the auctioned by Sothebys.

Award winning Globemakers Greaves & Thomas
are a small company based in the United Kingdom, today they make
Historical Globes, Celestial Globes, Lunar Globes, Planetary Globes,
Facsimile Globes, Replica Globes, Themed Globes, Paper Folding
Globes, and Modern Day Globes. Arts Corespondent Jemmy Button
looks into their history.

In 1991 James Bissell-Thomas after several years
of research, published his first globe (Merzbach
& Falk's 1881 globe). The globe was well
received, especially because of the ageing techniques developed
to lend the globes a patina producing a convincing replica. James
Bissell-Thomas believes that this was achieved because of his
Art School background, his printing knowledge gained running his
own publishing house in the 1980's (Long Tail Prints) combined
with his knowledge as an antiques dealer. In 1991 the first globe
joined an already existing eclectic range of furnishing ideas
which included Giant Tennis Rackets, Rivercraft furniture, Hat
Boxes etc. (most are still being made: www.gtstore.co.uk)
. It was because of
James Bissell-Thomas' interest in globes, that the decision was
then made to form a collection of globes, spanning cartographic
history from 1492 to the present day.

At the time James' knowledge in globes was poor,
however a good friend at the Royal Geographical Society pointed
out that the following year (1992) would be not only be the 500
year anniversary of the European discovery of the New World, but
it would also be the anniversary of the earliest surviving terrestrial
globe ~ Martin Behaim's 'Erdapfel'. This globe today resides in
the Germanishes Museum in Germany, rightly described by Bissell-Thomas
as the 'Holy Grail' of all globes, not just because of its age,
but also because of the profusion of data inscribed on the globe,
the globe is best described as a medieval geographical census
describing the world beyond Europe, listing the origin of spices,
metals, traditions, peoples, animals, islands and religions etc.
not only this but the globe covered in beautiful illustrations
by Glockendon.

Despite the globe being on an elaborate stand,
with extremely detailed artwork, Greaves & Thomas still decided
it would be wise to republish this fine relic. Appointments were
then made with the Germanisches Museum and flights were booked.
On arrival at the museum in September 1991, it transpired that
the Germanisch Museum had its own globe publishing interest and
was not interested in helping G&T achieve their goal. Consequently,
they were given a very limited time to study the original globe
and reference images they also commissioned from the Museum were
later blocked and never arrived. While many would have given up,
Greaves & Thomas decided that it would persevere, knowing
that what ever they produced would ultimately be compared to a
rival globe that would have the Museum's seal of approval. All
possible data concerning the globe was sourced and the finished
result once again was well received, and is today is considered
one of the most important globes in their collection.

In August 1992 when the Martin
Behaim Globewas completed, Bissell-Thomas proudly
informed the Germanish Museum that despite their reluctance to
help, he had succeeded in making their facsimile. Soon after this
3 overseas business men arranged to come and see their Behaim
Globe, at the time Greaves & Thomas was trading from 2 small
garages in a small muddy yard, then even the two garages were
not room enough, and a small 12' white square marquee had been
hurriedly erected in the yard as a temporary measure. When the
visitors arrived, they spent considerable time inspecting the
globe, and then had an impromptu board meeting by themselves in
the rain in the muddy yard, they re-entered, and announced that
2 of them were presidents of two globe companies, Rath Globes
from Germany and Cram Globes from the USA. They informed Greaves
& Thomas that they had been working with the Gemanishes Museum
to produce their facsimile version, however upon inspection of
the globe, they stated that they were keen to cease production
of their own efforts and to market the G &T globe. This they
did, with considerable success including selling one example to
the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. Not only this, but
the Gemanishes Museum also ordered a globe for themselves.

Greaves & Thomas have, on more than one occasion,
offered to make the Germanische Museum's version, which would
be one step closer to the original, but to date they have declined.
The Greaves & Thomas version can now be found in numerous
museums around the world.

Today alongside their Themed Globes, Historical
Replica Globes and their Modern Day Globes, Greaves & Thomas
have also added the spectacular 'Hermetic
Globe'
to their Collection and this will soon be followed by a production
version of their amazing Invisible
Globe.

Greaves & Thomas now also have now formed
an interesting collection of globes made in the last 300 years
by other globemakers, this 500 strong collection will soon be
prominently displayed in the Museum that they are presently preparing
on the Isle of Wight. This should be a Mecca for designers as
it will show numerous different versions of the same object. Not
only this, but they will be using the Sistine Chapel's ceiling
as inspiration to make a stunning celestial ceiling, and at the
same time show one of the finest optical illusions in the world.

A surprising aspect of Greaves & Thomas is
that they produce all their Globes in the UK. While numerous companies
in the UK now relocate their production to the far east, in order
to survive in today's cut throat market, G&T continue to produce
a quality product which is well received. Their workforce never
more than 5 craftpersons, and the globes they offer are limited
by craft instead of number, this is verified in the small numbers
of certain globes produced each year. Made using recycled papers
and recycled hardwoods, Greaves & Thomas globes will never
cost the Earth.